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Annotated Reference Guide to Collectible Books

Le Carre, John

In 1964, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold became John Le Carre’s breakthrough work. The public reacted rapturously to the book’s move away from the traditional spy novel. Indeed there was so much interest that his cover at MI6 was blown and he had to resign. But the Secret Service’s loss was undoubtedly literature’s gain. Le Carre has since become one of the most famous and respected British authors of contemporary fiction.

Le Carre’s advantage over many writers in the genre is his ability to write from experience in the field and as such he is able to demonstrate authenticity and realism on every page. His style is a world away from James Bond approach to the genre; his ‘heroes’ are often tired, bored and cynical middle-aged men. The settings are more likely to be mundane suburban houses or dank, smoky offices than country estates and private islands. Rather than there being a clear distinction between good and evil, the lines are invariably blurred as to who is right and wrong.

His dozen or so Cold War novels such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley’s People are his most familiar and collectible works. First editions are typically available for under $800. However, the first of his novels, Call for the Dead, which was not an instant hit when first published, has sold for more than $8,000 at auction. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold can attain $2,000.

Understandably, since the end of the Cold War, Le Carre has had to reinvent his work. More recent books have seen a shift towards contemporary issues such as global terrorism, the corporatization of governments and the unscrupulous abuses of power by large states. But his ability to create subtle plots and intriguing characters, which made his first books so popular and widely acclaimed, remains unchanged. Whether these more recent books are as attractive for collectors remains to be seen.